Gregoire Fined $1,250 For Campaign Violations

OLYMPIA - The state Public Disclosure Commission has fined Attorney General Christine Gregoire's campaign for violating finance laws during her 1992 run for office, although it accepted her explanation of rookie mistakes by volunteers.

The PDC voted 4-0 yesterday to levy a $1,250 fine for five violations, the most serious of which involved failure to report exactly how the campaign spent $300,000. The money was used to produce television ads and purchase air time.

The commission levied just half the $2,500 penalty allowed under the law because the rest of the violations were deemed minor, and none was determined intentional.

Gregoire, the state's top law enforcer, who is running for re-election, accepted responsibility, and said she and her staff have learned valuable lessons from the 18-month investigation.

"I came here to restore public confidence in government," Gregoire told the board. "I will do everything that I can in the future to bring about full compliance."

Gregoire and the PDC staff had agreed on the violations last month. The only question yesterday was the penalty.

The commission levied $750 of the fine for one violation deemed "very serious and substantial," and $500 for four minor violations. Acting board chairman Gary Maehara said the panel thought all the violations were unintentional.